Family

Family is an interesting concept for me. The question: "What is family?" has been asked for a long time, and I like all sides of it. For me, an only child, I have a tendency to add and cling on to new members all the time. See, for me, the ones we choose are just as important as the ones we are born with. It's not a new concept, by any means, nor do I arrogantly think that I am the only person to feel this way, but it is how I feel and I love my extended family as if they've always been there.

I was reminded today of what it means to be a part of a family.
Disclaimer: I love my blood family. Moving on.

Today was perfect, arriving in a slightly chilly Sacramento, followed by taking one of my favorite drives to Chico, CA.
Disclaimer: I hate my rental car. Ford Focus = Fail. First world problems.
I hit Chico as the sun was setting and I was pulling into the Garden Walk Mall parking lot. I had a great conversation with one of my favorite people over text (cause I'm all modern and shit), and had coffee at my favorite coffee joint.
Disclaimer: I'm right and the Naked Lounge is the best. Vietnamese for the win.

Everything was solid gold, as I have tendency to say, up till this point and only got better.

I was lucky enough to have dinner with my sister, Molly, and Mama Enochs. I love these people. We gave introductions and the standard, "Where are you staying?" came up. I said that I'd probably hit up Econolodge or something.
Disclaimer: I'd read my contract wrong, because I like to read them at 4AM, and had gotten into town a tad earlier than my room rate had allowed. I was without lodging.
Simply put, they said that it was stupid that I would spend money on a room and that I should stay at their place. Me being a shy, nervous man when it comes to asking for things from people I care about, I told them not to worry about it and that I'd be fine getting a hotel room. I was then told that what I had said was stupid and that I was staying with them. I love these people.

We had dinner, great conversation, and I got to catch up with two of my people.
Disclaimer: Turkey soup, rolls, cornbread and Sierra Nevada = win. Hardcore win.
It was also made clear that whenever I was in town that I could stay with them. After more talk and laughter, a bed was made up and Molly had to zonk out.
Disclaimer: Molly saves lives and needs to be in bed by 9pm usually. She was up until 9:30 for me. Love her.
As I was thanking Mama Enochs for her hospitality and repeating variations on "you're so amazing," "thank you," and "I'm so grateful," I was told the following sentence: "Oh of course! Andrew, you're family." I was then hugged. I then teared up.

You see, I'm very stupid and very hard on myself when it comes to friends, family and loved ones in general. I don't value the man that I am 100% of the time, not yet, anyhow, and I often don't understand that people care for me just as much as I care for them. It's a weird displacement of my value system and all that which just amounts to being thick headed after being bullied and blah blah sob sad sack miff.

I write this stuff and I feel like I owe an apology and a thank you to the people I love. So that's it, I'm sorry that I'm thick headed some times and I find myself something of an imposition. Working on it. I think I'm a good man, don't get me wrong, by no means do I think I'm "unworthy" or some tripe, just to be clear. But I know that I can get pretty out of touch with those in my corner.

So, thank you! Thank you to those in my life who I consider family, those I love and those I share passions with. You remind me that family is blood, yes, but more so a bond that is stronger than physical/material. You remind me that who I am and moreover how I am is a good thing, and gives me the gift of knowing you. Thank you. That's all that I can say. Thank you, and I promise that I'll pay it forward and return the favor.

Today was a good day. Today was perfect.